Published 6:00 pm, Friday, April 8, 2011

A Midland man is still in custody Friday evening on an arrest warrant for allegedly assaulting his boss after being refused a payday advance.

Richard B. Richards, 43, is being held on a $100,000 bail, as of press time, for a second-degree felony of robbery.

Police and medical first-responders revived Richards' boss March 8 after he was beaten unconscious. He then recounted to authorities the events in late March leading up to the assault and robbery, according to the affidavit for an arrest warrant.

The employer told police that Richards and another employee, Ernest J. Owens, approached him and asked for an advance on their paychecks. After telling the pair they would have to wait until payday, Richards began arguing, the report read.

After arguing with his boss for a while, Richards punched the employer in the face, causing him to fall to the ground. He then told police Richards got on top of his chest and repeatedly struck him. He also said he felt someone grab his legs to hold him down and heard a voice yell to hit him, according to the arrest warrant.

He told police that he was hit so many times and so hard he blacked out.

When he was awoken by medical responders, he noticed he was missing about $500 and a cell phone.

Police issued a warrant for Richards on March 22 after interviewing his boss and reviewing photographic evidence of the assault. He was arrested Wednesday.

Owens is still in custody Thursday, as well, after being arrested on March 23 for a second-degree felony of robbery. He is being held on a $100,000 bond.

Richards had no bond or attorney listed with the clerk of courts Thursday evening. If convicted of the second-degree felony, he could face up to 20 years in prison.